Get a MichiganCertificate of good Standing in 5 minutes.

Also Known As A Certificate of Status, Certificate of Existence, Etc.

Apply for a Michigan Certificate of Good Standing in minutes!

Michigan Certificate of Good Standing

A Certificate of Good Standing is a type of business document whose purpose tends to cause a lot of confusion. What does it mean to be in “good standing”? Why would you need to have a sheet of paper saying that you conform to this status? It’s actually much less mysterious than it might seem at first glance. If you operate a business in Michigan, you need to know what a Certificate of Good Standing (CGS) can do for you, and how you can get one. Fortunately, FastFilings can help you with both of those questions.

A Certificate of Good Standing is a document that simply verifies the legal right of a given business to conduct operations in a particular state. Around the nation it sometimes goes by one or more alternative names, such as Certificate of Existence or Certificate of Fact. No matter where you are, however, it has more or less the same legal standing—it proves that a business has been validly registered with the relevant state agency and is up to date with filing requirements.

If you need to get a valid Michigan Certificate of Good Standing (CGS) for your corporation or LLC, your best option is to order it through FastFilings. Our online ordering system has been streamlined for optimal efficiency. Just spend a few minutes typing in some basic business data, and the paperwork will be sent to your address shortly. There’s no easier way to obtain a Michigan Certificate of Good Standing.

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What Is a Certificate of Good Standing in Michigan?

A Michigan Certificate of Good Standing (CGS) is a single-page document that is officially issued by the state’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. It can be used to certify several facts relating to a particular company, such as its date of organization, the type of business structure it operates under, and its compliance with annual filing obligations.

The Michigan CGS is signed by the Director of the Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau. The document also bears an official seal of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and the date the document was generated.

A Certificate of Good Standing in Michigan is often used in business-to-business transactions to verify the legal status of an involved party.

How Do I Get a Michigan Certificate of Good Standing?

You can use FastFilings to get your Michigan Certificate of Good Standing! Although you can order one of these documents directly from the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, we have a more convenient way with our simple ordering system.

If you operate a corporation or a limited liability company (LLC), you can qualify for a Michigan Certificate of Good Standing. Foreign organizations—that is, those formed under the laws of another state—may be required to obtain a Certificate of Authority to do business in Michigan.

What if you have a limited partnership (LP)? You can request a specialized certificate confirming your “Not Cancelled” status with the state.

It’s also possible to request a Michigan Certificate of Fact that contains all filed documents relating to your business.

Do You Really Need a Michigan Certificate of Good Standing?

A Michigan Certificate of Good Standing (CGS) is not needed to conduct day-to-day business operations in the state. A CGS is not a business license that must be kept updated. However, there are specific business situations that customarily require a business to present a valid Certificate of Good Standing. These situations include:

Applying for a payment processing account
Applying for a business loan
Establishing a line of business credit
Renewing certain business licenses
Securing investment funds
Purchasing insurance for your business
Selling or transferring a business
Expanding business operations into other states

A Michigan CGS has no expiration date. Nonetheless, some third parties prefer to see a Michigan Certificate of Good Standing that has been issued recently. Although there is no universal standard, it is common to set the accepted time window for a Michigan CGS for no longer than the past 30 or 60 days.

How to Make Sure Your Michigan Business Is Compliant

Staying compliant with state law is essential in order to obtain a Michigan Certificate of Good Standing. For the most part, compliance is a matter of paying all applicable franchise taxes and staying up to date with required business filings. You need to send in your annual reports and/or annual statements when they are due; failure to do so can result in denial of your application for a CGS.

Specific filing requirements, including due dates, depend on the kind of business structure you are operating under. If you fall behind, you should get a notice of delinquency reminding you of your filing obligations. Don’t ignore this notice—neglecting your filing responsibilities could eventually result in the dissolution of your business.

How FastFilings Can Help with Your Michigan Certificate of Good Standing

All you need to do is get your business data ready for reference, and then access our convenient online ordering system. You can start the process of getting your Michigan Certificate of Good Standing (CGS) in just a few minutes. It’s really the easiest way to get a Michigan CGS so you can prove the legitimacy of your business.